Tech Bros by John Stensholt

The extraordinary story of Atlassian – how two university friends with a billion-dollar idea created a global tech company.

In a cramped share house in inner-city Sydney, university classmates Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar started working together to create a $160 billion company from scratch and revolutionise the way the world works.

They couldn’t have been more different – Cannon-Brookes the son of a wealthy banker and educated in one of Sydney’s top private schools, while Farquhar’s western suburbs parents worked multiple jobs to make ends meet – yet together, they rode the software boom to unimaginable success, creating tools that reshaped how teams collaborate worldwide.

Atlassian’s Nasdaq debut shattered records, making its co-founders billionaires in the process, and its rise to the top was marked by bold investments, climate crusades and a relentless drive to innovate. Built on the very principle of teamwork, Atlassian’s groundbreaking collaboration software would prove wildly popular in the world’s biggest corporations including eBay, Cisco, Visa and Proctor & Gamble.

But as Cannon-Brookes and Farquhar’s empire grew from a single email into a global powerhouse, so did the cracks in their partnership. Within 20 years the pressure of success would bring the co-founders into conflict. Disputes over strategy, property and ambition destroyed their friendship just as the rise of artificial intelligence threatened what they had created.

Expertly crafted by two of Australia’s top business journalists, Tech Bros is the gripping story of Australia’s first truly global tech company.

About the Author: John Stensholt is the editor of The Australian’s prestigious annual Richest 250 list and a seasoned business journalist and features writer. His career spans roles at BRW magazine, The Australian Financial Review, and The Wall Street Journal. John has received numerous accolades, including Quills, Citi Journalism and Australian Sports Commission awards. He has been named Business Journalist of the Year three times at the News Awards and has been a finalist for the Walkley Awards.

Perry Williams is The Australian’s Chief Business Correspondent, covering Australia’s biggest companies and corporate deals. He was previously Business Editor and a senior reporter specializing in energy. Perry has also held roles at Bloomberg and The Australian Financial Review where he served as Resources Editor and Deputy Companies Editor. He has been named Business Journalist of the Year twice at the News Awards.

28 Jul 2026
 

Tech Bros by John Stensholt ISBN 9781460769492